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Jacob Young, best known for his roles on General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful, has spoken openly about a hidden struggle with opioid dependence that spanned years. The actor describes how a routine medical prescription turned into a long fight to reclaim his life.
From dental prescription to years-long opioid dependence
Young says a prescription for Vicodin after dental work marked the start of his problem. What began as short-term pain relief evolved into a dependence that lasted about seven years. He has called the pills the only thing that made him feel steady at the time.
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He stresses the contrast between how he felt privately and how he performed publicly. Young maintains he continued to meet his professional obligations despite the addiction.
Keeping the secret: family, shame, and the moment he told his wife
The actor kept his struggles hidden from almost everyone, including his wife, Christen Steward. He says he finally admitted the truth when he could no longer hide the severity of his dependence.
- Confession: He told his wife he was addicted and needed help.
- Support: That admission led him to seek counseling and treatment.
Therapy uncovered old wounds
Counseling helped Young explore why he turned to substances. Therapy traced much of his pain back to childhood hardships and early trauma.
He grew up in financial struggle, and the loss of his stepmother to suicide when he was 16 shaped his outlook. These experiences, he says, contributed to feelings he later tried to mask with substances.
Substance history: marijuana, alcohol, and cocaine
Young’s path to substance use began in adolescence. He experimented with marijuana in his early teens and later escalated to heavier drinking and stimulant use.
- Started using marijuana around age 14 as a social coping method.
- In his mid-20s, while working in New York, alcohol use grew because it was easy to access.
- Later, cocaine entered the picture during a period of nightlife and personal unrest.
Career milestones amid chaos
Young’s acting career took off in the late 1990s with The Bold and the Beautiful. He later earned a Daytime Emmy nomination and held roles on General Hospital and All My Children.
Despite professional success, he says personal pain and untreated anxiety fueled his substance use.
Family, recovery, and a turning point
Meeting his wife and starting a family became pivotal for Young. They married in 2007 and built a family together.
- Son Luke was born in 2008.
- Daughters Molly and Grace were born in 2013 and 2016.
Fatherhood and family responsibilities helped him commit to sobriety and therapy. He credits counseling with helping him understand the underlying causes of his addiction.
His message today and where to find help
Young now talks openly about his recovery. He emphasizes that many people carry struggles and that seeking help is a sign of strength.
- If you or someone you know needs help, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
- Other steps: seek a licensed therapist, find local support groups, and consult medical professionals for safe withdrawal plans.
